Global Coalition Looks to Secure a Place in Emerging Carbon Markets

Two Australian forestry sector veterans have created the International Sustainable Forestry Coalition (ISFC) in a move secure a place in the emerging carbon market, according to a feature by Proactive Investors (9-10-23). The coalition will focus on climate finance and market mechanisms, pushing for coherent and implementable solutions.

The ISFC is made up of 10 founding companies that manage a combined nine million hectares of forest across 27 countries. The coalition intends to lean on the United Nations and COP-related processes that are critical for transforming forestry into an investable asset class.

Forests are slated to assume nearly one-third of the decarbonization effort in the coming decades, Proactive Investors reported. This entails replacing plastics with wood in the circular economy, and it will become feedstock for biomass, while the forests will serve as carbon offsets and credits.

The ISFC plans to present its case at an upcoming meeting at the UN in New York City and the COP summit in Dubai in November. Major global companies like Japan’s Oji and Finland’s Stora Enso are among the coalition’s members. By championing a unified, global voice, the coalition seeks to harness an industry set to become a vital part of a market already work $100 billion (USD). It aims to fulfil the industry’s potential, not only as an asset class but a crucial part of global decarbonization efforts.